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Russia's Lebed Adopts
A Market-Friendly Style

By

Almar Latour and

John ReedStaff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal

Updated April 14, 1997 12:01 a.m. ET

LONDON -- The bad boy of Russian politics is on his best behavior these days.

Just six months ago, Alexander Lebed was Russia's most popular politician. With Boris Yeltsin laid up for heart surgery and Russia seemingly rudderless, the former paratrooper general and Afghan War hero seized the initiative, forming his own political party and launching an open bid for Russia's top job.